Drip-water indicator and cut-off device



Aug, w imam J. v. m: WALD DRIP WATER INDICATOR AND CUT OFF DEVICE Filed Aug. 10 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Awg E9 W24 1 J. v. DE WALD I DRIP WATER INDECATOR AND CUT OFF DEVICE Filed Aug. 10 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug: 1924a J. V. DE WALD DRIP WATER INDICATOR AND CUT OFF DEVICE Filed Aug. 10, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

JOHN VINCENT DE WALD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRIP-WATER INDICATOR,AND GIFT-OFF DEVICE.

Application filed August 10, 1920; Serial No. 402,57i,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN V. DE WALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drip-Water Indicators and Cut-Off Devices, of which the following is a' specification.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved device which can be readily attached to refrigerators and which will be automatically operative to indicate in a conspicuous place the amount of water in the drip water receptacle so that the latter can be emptied before it runs over.

Another object is to so construct my invention that if by over-sight or neglect the receptacle is not emptied when full the de vice will automatically operate to close the drain or drip pipe of the refrigerator.

A still further object is to so construct the device of my invention that it will be adjustable to fit refrigerators of different sizes. I

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a front elevation of a refrigerator equipped with a device made in accordan'ce with my present invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation show ing a portion of the device illustrated in Figure 1 and drawn on an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a view of the same general character as shown in Figure 2 and illustrat ing the indicating elements having been moved to a position to show that the drip water receptacle is full and should be emptied, I I

Figure is an enlarged'fragmentary sectional plan view taken on the line 4-4c of Figure 2, l

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 55 of Figure 2, A v

Figure dis a view of the same general character as shown in Figure and illus trating the device Whenthe' drip water receptacle is full and the drain or drip pipe of the refrigerator having been automatically closed to prevent any additional water entering the receptacle until after the latter has been emptied, and s Figure 7 is a view of the same general character as shown in Figures 5 and 6 -il lustrating the parts in the position which. they occupy to permit the full receptacle to be easily removed without obstruction from under therefrigerator for emptying purposes.

Referring to' the'drawings, 8 represents a refrigerator which may be of any type such as now in general use and which includes a drain or'drip pipe 9; said pipe being illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and/Z. Areceptacle such as a pan 10 is adapted to be p0- sitioned under the "refrigerator to receive the drip or drain Water which drops out of the pipe 9. 1 i

The front of the refrigerator includes a board or panel 11 having a hole 12 extending therethrough and a beam or lever 13 has its forward portion extending out of the hole 12 and extends under the refrigerator above the level of the receptacle'lO as clearly shown in Figures 5 to 7 This'lever or beam 13 is preferably made of two channel-shape sections '14 and15' which are slidably connected together by a clamp or set screw 16; said clamp or set screw extending through registering longitudinally extending slots 17 and18 in the sections 14 and 15. The, forward section 18 of the lever 13 is pivotally suspended on a pivot rod 19; said section it having a hole 20 through which the suspension rod 19 freely extends; the lower end of the rod- 19 being preferably provided with "a thumb nut 21 for supporting the lever '13 so that it can rock in' a vertical plane. The rear end of the lever 13 has a. resilient cup 22 adapted to be moved upward into closing engagement with the bottom of the drain or drip pipeQ such for example as shownin Figures 6 and 7. A heavy wire 23 whichislooped at its forward end 24: extends through the front end of the lever section 14: and has end portions 25 which extend at an angle outwardly through slots 25 in'the sides of the lever section 14; said'portions 25 being bent to provide eyelets to form bearings for two indicating rods 26; said indicating-rods extending substantially paralielwith the lever 13 and having their front end portions extending out'through holes in the front channel 11.

The rods 26 are each made in two telescopic sections 27 and 28; said'sections being secured together by set screws 29. The sec-:

to rock the rods 26. The extreme forward ends of the rods 26 have fingers 32 adapted to push two plates 33 toward each other; said plates being slidably mounted on the front channel 11 and having pointers 3& adapted to move toward a central indicating mark 35 whichmay be inscribed in any manner on the panel 11. The opposed edges of the plates 33 are made in the form of cams 36 and are adapted to engage the upper opposite edges of the forward portion of the lever 13 which projects beyond the panel 11. Thus when the volume of the water within the receptacle increases the floats will be raised to turn the rods 26 in their bearings and the fingers 32 will move the plates 33 into engagement with the top edge portionsof the front of the lever 13 and cause the front end of the lever to be swung downwardly and thereby raise the rear end of the lever to move the cup toward the drip pipe 9.

A supporting bar 37 is slidably mounted on two guiding rods 38; said guiding rods depending from the bottom of the refrige rator. When the water within. the recep tacle increases the floats will be raised and will engage and lift the bar 37 on the guiding rods and when it is desired to empty the pan the loop end 24 of the wire 23 is pulled forwardly as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 4 and the rods 26 can then be turned to move the floats above the level of the bar 37 after which the bars 26 can be pushed inwardly so that the floats will rest on the top of the bar 37 it being noted that as soon as the floats are pulled from under the bar 37 as above described the bar 37 will fall to its normal level to permit the floats to be pushed over the topthereof so as to rest on .the bar while the pan is being removed; such position being shown in Figure 7.

In order to cause the rods 26 to be moved forwardly when the looped end 24 of the wire23 is pulled, the sections 28 of the rods 26 aregrooved at their hearing connection 3 with the part 25 so that said parts 25 in additionito forming bearings also serve to move the rods 26 forwardly when the part 24 of the wire 23 is pulled outwardly.

- It will be noted that by making the lever 13 and rods 26 in sections which are adjustspirit thereof, and hence I do not limit 111 self to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by 'Letters Patent is wise; a float on the rod, disposed in the re- I ccptacle and adapted to partially rotate the rod; a lever pivoted between its ends and adjustable lengthwise; means on one end of the lever adapted to engage and close the drain pipe, and means movably connecting the rod with the other end of the lever; substantially as described.

The combination with a drain pipe and a removable receptacle under said drain pipe of a rotatable rod adjustable lengthwise; a float on the rod, disposed in the receptacle and adapted topartially rotate the rod; a lever pivoted between its ends and adjustable lengthwise; means on one end of the lever adapted to engage and close the drain pipe; indicating means adapted to move the other end of the lever, and means on the rod for actuating the indicating means; substantially as described,

4.. The combination with a refrigerator having a water drain pipe and a removable receptacle under said drain pipe, of a pivotally mounted lever having a portion movable into closing engagement with said drain pipe; a float for engagement with the drain water in said receptacle; means operatively connected to said float and adapted to swing said lever into a position to close said drain pipe; and means operative in conjunction. with a part of said latter connected means to form an indicator whereby the amount of water in the receptacle can. be ascertained; substantially as described. Y

5. The combination with a refrigerator having a water drain pipe and a removable receptacle under said drain pipe, of a pivotally mounted lever havinga portion mov able into closing engagement with said drain pipe; 21- float for engagement withthe drain water in said receptacle;,smeans operatively I connected to said float and adapted to swing said lever into a position to close said drain pipe; and means for registration with a part of said latter connected means and located outside of said refrigerator whereby the amount of water within said receptacle can be ascertained; substantially as described,

6. The combination with a refrigerator having a water drain pipe and a removable receptacle under said drain pipe, of a pivotally mounted lever having a portion movable into closing engagement with said drain pipe; a float for engagement with the drain water; a pivotally mounted rod having an angular portion to which said float is attached; an indicating member movably mounted on the outside of the refrigerator; and a finger connected to said rod for en; gageme-nt with said indicating member whereby the latter will be moved when the rod is rotated due to the action of increase volume of water within the receptacle, said increasing water serving to move the float upwardly and thereby rotate said rod, said indicating member havinga portion adapted to move said. lever into closing position relative to said drain pipe; substantially as described.

7. llhe combination with a refrigerator having a water drain pipe and a removable receptacle under said drain pipe, of a pivotally mounted lever having a portion movable into closing engagement with said drain pipe, said lever having its forward end portion extending beyond the outer surface of the refrigerator; a float for engagement with the drain water; a pivotally mounted rod having an angular portion to which said float is attached; an indicating member movably mounted on the outside ofthe refrigerator; and a finger connected to said rod for engagement with said indicating member whereby the latter will be moved when the rod is rotated due to the action of increase volume of water within the receptacle said indicating member having a cam portion for engagement with the projecting end of said lever whereby the lever is swung to close said drain pipe: substantially as described.

8. The combination with a refrigerator having a water drain pipe and a removable receptacle under said drain pipe of a pivotally mounted lever having a portion movable into closing engagement with said drain pipe, said lever having its forward end portion extending beyond the outer surface of the refrigerator; looped wire extending into said lever and having angular end portions projecting from the side thereof; rods being rotatably mounted in said latter portions of said wire, said rods having angular portions with floats thereon for engagement with the drain water within said receptacle; and indicating members slidably mounted on the outer face of said refrigerator, said rods having portions for moving said indicating members, said indicating members having parts for engagement with the outer portion of said lever whereby the latter is swung into closing position with said drain pipe; substantially as described.

9. The combination of a supporting struc ture; a liquid drain receptacle under the supporting structure; indicating means located on the out-side of said supporting structure; means for moving said indicat said supporting structure and positioned.

above the level of said receptacle, said latter moving means being adapted to be actuated so as to move said float to rest on said supporting means; substantially as described.

10. The combination of a supporting' angularly extending portion and adapted to engage the drain liquid within said receptacle; and a supporting bar under said supportingstructure and located above the level of said receptacle, said rod being adapted to be moved to swing said float into a position whereby itcan be moved so as to rest upon said supporting bar; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN VINCENT DE WALD. Witnesses: v

ELIZABETH GARBE CHAS. E. PoTTs. 

